Unity – The pain of standing alone

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Raindrops collect together to form a vast sea, petals unite blossoming into a delicate flower, sand granules unite to form a dune, a blend of colours with one another compose a painting, pages together form a book, atoms form elements, even the planets that orbit the sun unite to form the solar system, and cells and other components make up our very blood. All around us we can see the union of elements to form part of a greater structure, a greater body. The very architecture of man and nature are in essence a structural assembly of various components, this is unity, it is an effective amalgamation of certain elements that together build a successful system or body. The difference between man and nature in this case is that in nature the principle of unity is innate, it is an inherent design of some aspects of nature to collect together in union, but in contrast the comparison to man is quite different, man must strive for such unity, this is the apparent difference.

The Qur’an states, “O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other)” (49:13).

Undoubtedly people were and are born into nations and tribes and through such categorisation can they easily achieve unity and a sense of togetherness, but this isn’t the unity that I speak of, the unity that is needed is between such clans, between such peoples, the forming of relationships between two or more distinct factions, brotherhood amongst brothers, sisterhood amongst sisters, between families, between communities, unity amongst people of all races, of any ethnicity, and from any social background. This is the unity that is needed within the Ummah; this is the unity for which we should strive. We must endeavour for unity in-spite of diversity, this will only bring us closer together, and we are stronger when together than when we are detached. We must also remember that Islamic teaching is indiscriminate to any particular race and condemns any kind of distinction based upon nationality, ethnicity, race, or social standing. All are equalled in the practice of Islam; all are humbled in the worship of their creator. It is the true cosmopolitan faith, in which their exists no superior race, so we should try not to look down upon anyone, and consider all our fellow Muslims/Muslimahs as our brother and our sisters, giving no distinction, or favouring a certain type of people over others.

Unity is mostly referred to an a wider scale, between similar yet slightly differing nations or peoples, but this unity can be established even between two people, for unity starts at the lowest level also. If one such brother/sister is from the same city from which you originate, or if he/she speaks the same language as you, you should not give him/her preferential treatment over others that aren’t from the same place, or do not speak the same tongue. As Muslims we are all brothers and sisters, these are bonds we cannot forge in any other way other than through Islam, due to this commonality that we possess. Such brother/sisterhood cannot be attained elsewhere, the camaraderie that we have as Muslims, the affection, the love and the solidarity that we have, and have the potential to establish are certainly a blessing within this Ummah. There is a famous hadith that if there are three people, and two are engaging in a conversation, then those two should not exclude the third. So if there is a sister that you have seen in the prayer room yet have failed to meet, then go forth and meet her, if there is a brother who you have seen sitting all on his lonesome in a lecture theatre, and you have yet to greet him, then go greet that one. (of course this applies to brothers greeting brothers, sisters greeting sisters). Try not to exclude anyone from the brotherhood you may already share between your select group of friends, as Muslims we should consider ourselves all equal and of the same ilk, we should try and extend that hand of friendship and love among us, and it should permeate into the company that we hold, and to all of our brothers and sisters.

“And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves” (3:103).

Things that are united naturally work better than those that are independent or have disbanded. Love and unity go hand in hand, try and approach others with love, open your heart and approach others without contempt, and insha’Allah this will facilitate unity amongst us, this will help infuse love, respect and piety between all of us, this will help us strengthen our Ummah.

Without true unity there is room for discord, without true unity there is room for disharmony, division and then there can be rise to conflict. Without true unity there is no real Ummah.

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